Music – Accessories – Teaching devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-14
2001-06-19
Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)
Music
Accessories
Teaching devices
C084S600000, C084S610000, C084S650000, C434S30700R, C386S349000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06248944
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a picture switching apparatus that selects a transition mode according to types of current and next pictures at the time of switching pictures.
2. Description of Related Art
A karaoke apparatus is designed to superimpose a word telop of lyrics to a background motion picture displayed on a monitor during the course of karaoke music performance. When performing no piece of karaoke music, the karaoke apparatus displays only a background video picture or reproduces a commercial message (CM) picture on the monitor in a vacant period between karaoke musical pieces so as to present horoscope, event information, music introduction and so on. The monitor of the karaoke apparatus may also display an alert picture to inform users of a credit shortage or a failure in the machine.
The karaoke apparatus thus displays several pictures in accordance with various situations, but does not take into account smooth and natural transition from a preceding picture item to a succeeding picture item at the time of switching the picture items. In other words, the karaoke apparatus merely conducts simple switching such as to execute end processing when the preceding picture is ended and to execute start processing when the succeeding picture is started. For example, a blue back frame may appear after the preceding picture is ended and then vary to a gray back frame before the succeeding picture is started. This causes the problem of unnatural picture switching, and is incapable of effective start of reproduction of the succeeding picture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a picture switching apparatus that selects a transition mode in consideration of the smooth and natural connection between preceding and succeeding pictures so that the pictures can be switched from one to another naturally and effectively.
According to the invention, there is provided a picture switching apparatus that takes in plural types of pictures and selectively outputs one of the pictures. The inventive picture switching apparatus comprises a switching section capable of switching one picture item to another picture item in plural types of transition modes, and a control section that instructs the switching section to select a transition mode according to the type of a picture currently displayed and the type of a subsequent picture at the time of switching the pictures.
The picture transition modes may include cross-fade, cut-in/cut-out, blanking via a blue back frame, and switching with several effects such as dissolve and scroll. The cross-fade or the switching with effects are used for smooth switching from one situation to another situation. The cut-in/cut-out is used to emphasize the coming picture display. The transition mode is thus selected according to types of preceding and succeeding pictures. This allows suitable switching for the pictures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5247126 (1993-09-01), Okamura et al.
patent: 5863206 (1999-01-01), Narusawa et al.
patent: 5926603 (1999-07-01), Tanaka et al.
Fletcher Marlon
Nappi Robert E.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Yamaha Corporation
LandOfFree
Apparatus for switching picture items of different types by... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for switching picture items of different types by..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for switching picture items of different types by... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2451215